‘Supergirl’ (1984) Blu-Ray Review – Troubled Adaptation Is A Curious Entry Into The “Super” Franchise

In an age when audiences can find new superhero content nearly everywhere they look, it is easy to forget that these larger-than-life figures have not always been as well represented on screen. We recently took a look at the conclusion of the six-season run of Supergirl, a show that had an inconsistent run in terms of quality but brought an increased awareness and legitimacy to the character at large. While opinions on the series may vary, most can agree that it was a step up from the big-screen misfire from 1984. The film is notable for being one of the first feature films focused on a female superhero, but a troubled production history and a weak script kept it from being remembered fondly. 

Superhero films were scarce during this era, but the Christopher Reeves Superman films were loved by critics and audiences alike. Prior to the production of the third entry, producer Alexander Salkind announced that the Supergirl was happening, and she was going to receive her grand debut in Superman III before anchoring her own solo film. Those who choose to remember Superman III may recall that this did not end up transpiring, and the intensely negative reaction to the feature made it difficult to muster much excitement for a new “Super” film. Could a Supergirl plotline have helped the mess that was Superman III? That is a question we will never have the answer to. What we do know is that a lot of pressure was put on Supergirl to energize the franchise, but once again the writing was on the wall for the quality. What began as a plotline around Supergirl rescuing her famous cousin became something else entirely once Christopher Reeve decided not step anywhere near this one. After a hunt to get a director to even make this one finally concluded, we had French filmmaker Jeannot Szwarc behind the camera, best known for Jaws 2 and Santa Clause: The Movie. That does not really inspire confidence. 

When the film finally hit US theaters in November of 1984, after the rights to the film had been exchanged a handful of times, it was drastically shortened by 20 minutes to a 105 minute cut. This cut did not really please anyone, and the film quickly fizzled at the box office. Rather than pile on the hate, we should take a look at what went right with the film. First and foremost, the lead performance from Helen Slater should never be maligned. While the character is written to be a bit naive as she gets accustomed to Earth, Slater imbues Kara with an enduring sweetness and magnetism that keeps you transfixed every time she is on screen. When she charms her way into the local all-girls school, she conveniently becomes roommates with Lucy Lane (Maureen Teefy), the younger sister of Lois. The forced fan-service is a bit much, but their dynamic is one of the best aspects of the film. 

As controversial as it may seem, the other gem of this film is Faye Dunaway (Network) as Selena, a power-hungry aspiring witch who comes to know true power when she comes across the otherworldly object Kara has come to Earth to retrieve. To be clear, the Selena storyline is very dumb and taxing, but the performance from Dunaway, unfairly nominated for a Razzie, is far from an issue. Selena’s motivations are regressive and ultimately do not extend much beyond trying to capture the heart of a dimwitted gardener who is more transfixed by Kara (who in this story is pretending to be a schoolgirl, but we choose not to dwell on this too much). Dunaway knows the material is not great, and this camp-Queen knows from Mommie Dearest that entertaining the audience is the number one goal. Kara is a character who needs to be somewhat stoic and light, so it is up to Dunaway to give this film a pulse. She is what you need to get your friends to say, “Oh my, you HAVE to see Supergirl.” Everyone else fades into the background besides Kara due to the lack of enthusiasm by all involved. 

The biggest obstacle for this film is its script. Kara is given very little to do for the majority of the film, and she is not surrounded by particularly interesting secondary characters. The film is also inconsistent when it comes to how much Kara does or does not know about what it means to live on Earth. Selena is often cooking up trouble in the background, but her scheme is so far removed from Kara’s story at times that it feels like its own separate movie. The apex of the film is a sequence in which Selena controls a runaway tractor by magical means which Kara must try to stop by any means necessary. It’s a bit over-the-top, but it gives the audience a chance to see that Supergirl is every bit as powerful and capable as her cousin. It is characterization through action. It’s one of the few bright spots in a mostly plodding movie. Supergirl could have been an early home run for female representation in the superhero genre, but the messy execution is a disappointment for the character. 

See also
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Video Quality

Supergirl debuts on Blu-Ray with a 1080p transfer of the International Version sourced from a 2K scan of the Interpositive that is quite fetching. The transfer maintains a perfect amount of natural film grain, which lends itself to detailed backgrounds and clothing. The optical shots can make grain present even thicker, but this is a symptom of the production process and not an issue with the encoding. The image throughout the disc is free from dirt or print damage, as well as pesky digital anomalies such as compression artifacting or banding. Skin tones look natural throughout this release. The content that takes place in shadows is accompanied by deep black levels free of any crush. The transfer represents some of the beautiful locations in a way that is quite stunning. Vivid colors leap off the screen with a striking radiance when it comes to the costumes and elements of the production design. Warner Archive did not cut any corners with this presentation as it does justice to this title. 

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray release comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that sounds perfect for the story. The delivery of the dialogue always comes through crystal clear right in the center channel. None of the sound effects or the memorable score from Jerry Goldsmith ever overpowers the dialogue on this release. The kinetic sequences have a nice amount of weight in the mix, and there are environmental details that are appropriately lively in the speakers. There does not appear to be any damage or age related wear to the track. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles available on the disc for those who need it. Overall, this is an excellent audio presentation that suits the material really well.

Special Features

Disc One (Blu-Ray) – International Cut (2:04:34)

  • Audio Commentary: Director Jeannot Swzarc and Project Director Scott Michael Bosco provide a fact-filled commentary track in which they discuss the Jerry Goldsmith score, the intentional production design, the casting decisions, creating the illusion of flying, practical effects and more. For as many flaws as the movie has, you can tell that Swzarc is passionate about the material. 
  • Supergirl – The Making Of The Movie: A terrific 50-minute vintage promotional piece which is introduced by Faye Dunaway that includes numerous interviews with the creative figures from the time of production. There are some endearing conversations with Helen Slater about her initial audition process, insights from Swzarc about his intention with the material and more. 
  • Trailer: The two-and-a-half minute trailer is provided here. 

 

Disc Two (DVD) – Director’s Cut (2:18:44)

  • Director’s Cut: A standard definition version with Dolby Digital 2.0 audio is provided here. This version of the film made its debut on Anchor Bay’s “Limited Edition” DVD set. 

 

Final Thoughts

Supergirl is a film that likely could have been really great if it had gotten the support and consideration it deserved. Helen Slater is really great in the titular role, but the slapdash nature of the plot which lacks any meaningful ideas hinders her potential. For what we got in the end, there are admittedly some entertaining moments, especially when Dunaway leans into the camp. Mostly, though, things are just a bit aimless and boring. The Blu-Ray from Warner Archive packs a punch and gives fans a treat in the A/V department along with some worthwhile extras. While this one may be better suited for the hardcore Superman completists, newcomers should still check this one out to see how far we have come.

Supergirl (1984) can be purchased directly through the Warner Archive Amazon Store or various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.

 

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